• Adam Thielen advises Panthers rookies to 'be delusional,' fostering confidence.
• Thielen shares his experience as an undrafted free agent who made the team through self-belief.
• Jalen Coker, a UDFA success story, supports Thielen's advice, emphasizing the importance of confidence.

Carolina Panthers veteran receiver Adam Thielen is advising the team's incoming rookies to adopt a 'delusional' mindset as they approach their first minicamp. Drawing from his own experience as an undrafted free agent who successfully made the Vikings roster, Thielen emphasizes the importance of unwavering self-belief and confidence, even when facing low odds. His message aims to empower rookies, especially undrafted players and tryout participants, to perform at their best and seize the opportunity to prove themselves.

• What: Adam Thielen is advising Carolina Panthers rookies to adopt a 'delusional' mindset characterized by unwavering self-belief and confidence during their first minicamp.
• Who: Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers rookies, Jalen Coker, Tetairoa McMillan, Jimmy Horn Jr.
• When: May 06, 2025, ahead of rookie minicamp.
• Where: Charlotte, North Carolina (Carolina Panthers facilities).

The advice from Adam Thielen highlights the mental aspect of professional football, particularly for rookies trying to make a name for themselves. His personal experience as an undrafted free agent lends credibility to his message, showing that with enough self-belief and hard work, even players with low initial expectations can succeed. The inclusion of Jalen Coker's story further reinforces the idea that a confident and determined mindset can lead to unexpected opportunities and success in the NFL.

"I look back at it, and I'm more nervous now looking back at it than I was in the moment because, at the moment, I was a little delusional in the fact that I'm probably not going to make it,"

"I think you just live in the moment, and you just be delusional for a weekend and the fact that, like, hey, I'm going to go out there, and I'm better than these guys, and I'm going to beat them out, and I'm going to make the team."

"Just kind of being a sponge. Just kind of taking everything in, just trying to listen and do the best I could to make an impact when I was able to... I just felt like, I deserved to be in this position. I worked so hard to be in this spot and I just never saw myself—I guess kind of a little bit of that delusion. I never saw myself not playing or not making the team, so that was kind of like confidence that I had coming in."

"Excited for them, obviously happy for them, but you also want those guys to realize that, just because you were drafted in the first round, it's not over, like here we go, it's just the beginning. So excited for him and excited to get him in."

Adam Thielen's advice to the Carolina Panthers rookies emphasizes the importance of confidence and self-belief, particularly for undrafted free agents and tryout players. Drawing from his own experience and the success of players like Jalen Coker, Thielen's message encourages the rookies to approach their first minicamp with a 'delusional' mindset, fostering the determination needed to succeed in the competitive environment of the NFL. The advice serves as a reminder that the draft is just the beginning and hard work is paramount.